Dr. Phelps is a Staff Associate in the Office of International and Integrative Activities (OIIA) at the National Science Foundation. His major responsibilities include co-coordination of the Foundation-wide Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program and the Science and the Science and Technology Center (STC) programs. He recently co-chaired the Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education (INSPIRE) Working Group and remains involved with that initiative. He was previously the Program Director for Galactic Astronomy and for Education and Special Programs in the Division of Astronomical Sciences while on leave from the California State University, Sacramento where he served as a Full Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He also held an Adjunct Associate Professor position at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Phelps has also held a National Research Council Associateship at Phillips Laboratory, a postdoctoral position at the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and a Visiting Assistant Professor position at Oberlin College. Dr. Phelps is an internationally recognized expert on star cluster research, and has authored or co-authored over 60 papers, including more than 50 in refereed journals. Additionally, his commitment to education was recognized by an appointment to the Astronomy Education Board of the American Astronomical Society.